EP1438446B1 - System and method for electrolytic plating - Google Patents

System and method for electrolytic plating Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1438446B1
EP1438446B1 EP02786452A EP02786452A EP1438446B1 EP 1438446 B1 EP1438446 B1 EP 1438446B1 EP 02786452 A EP02786452 A EP 02786452A EP 02786452 A EP02786452 A EP 02786452A EP 1438446 B1 EP1438446 B1 EP 1438446B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printed circuit
circuit board
laminar flow
board
electrolyte
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP02786452A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1438446A2 (en
EP1438446A4 (en
Inventor
Hein Van Kempen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Viasystems Group Inc
Original Assignee
Viasystems Group Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Viasystems Group Inc filed Critical Viasystems Group Inc
Publication of EP1438446A2 publication Critical patent/EP1438446A2/en
Publication of EP1438446A4 publication Critical patent/EP1438446A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1438446B1 publication Critical patent/EP1438446B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
    • H05K3/00—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits
    • H05K3/0085—Apparatus for treatments of printed circuits with liquids not provided for in groups H05K3/02 - H05K3/46; conveyors and holding means therefor
    • H05K3/0088—Apparatus for treatments of printed circuits with liquids not provided for in groups H05K3/02 - H05K3/46; conveyors and holding means therefor for treatment of holes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D17/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D17/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
    • C25D17/001—Apparatus specially adapted for electrolytic coating of wafers, e.g. semiconductors or solar cells
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D5/00—Electroplating characterised by the process; Pretreatment or after-treatment of workpieces
    • C25D5/02—Electroplating of selected surface areas
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D5/00—Electroplating characterised by the process; Pretreatment or after-treatment of workpieces
    • C25D5/02—Electroplating of selected surface areas
    • C25D5/024—Electroplating of selected surface areas using locally applied electromagnetic radiation, e.g. lasers
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D5/00—Electroplating characterised by the process; Pretreatment or after-treatment of workpieces
    • C25D5/08—Electroplating with moving electrolyte e.g. jet electroplating
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D5/00—Electroplating characterised by the process; Pretreatment or after-treatment of workpieces
    • C25D5/20—Electroplating using ultrasonics, vibrations
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D7/00—Electroplating characterised by the article coated
    • C25D7/12—Semiconductors
    • C25D7/123—Semiconductors first coated with a seed layer or a conductive layer
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
    • H05K3/00—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits
    • H05K3/40—Forming printed elements for providing electric connections to or between printed circuits
    • H05K3/42—Plated through-holes or plated via connections
    • H05K3/423—Plated through-holes or plated via connections characterised by electroplating method

Definitions

  • the present electrolytic plating invention seeks to overcome or minimize these kinds of problems.
  • US 4,696,729 discloses an electroplating cell having a cathode assembly which is vertically mounted and which holds a plurality of wafers to be plated, and an anode which is vertically mounted adjacent to the cathode assembly.
  • the anode and cathode are spaced apart and form opposite walls of a channel through which the plating bath flows.
  • the plating bath is introduced through an isostatic chamber which produces, at its output, a substantially equal flow across the width of the channel so that a substantially vertical laminar flow is produced through the channel and the plated deposits are of uniform thickness within a wafer, from wafer to wafer and from batch to batch.
  • DE4337724 discloses a device for coating the wall of holes in electrical printed circuit boards or multilayer printed circuit boards (3), where the objects which are to be treated are moved forwards by a transportation system (6), horizontally aligned underneath the level (13) of a treatment liquid.
  • a flow guide box (16) which is divided by partition walls (20, 21) into a plurality of chambers (17, 18, 19).
  • the chambers (17, 18, 19) are alternately connected to the pressure side and the suction side of a pump which conveys the treatment liquid.
  • the top of the chambers (17, 18, 19) is formed by a perforated plate (24) which has a large number of apertures (25) which are distributed over the entire surface of the perforated plate (24).
  • the printed circuit boards (3) alternately have a laminar flow applied to them over a large area from below and are sucked into a laminar flow over a large area from below essentially throughout the entire time during which they are passing through the treatment liquid.
  • US 4,879,007 discloses providing floating shield for use in an electrolytic plating bath.
  • the shield comprises an elongated trough in which substrates are loaded for plating.
  • the substrates are held in the trough with the lower edge of each substrate below the plane of the edges of the trough.
  • the trough prior to loading is sufficiently buoyant to float on the surface of the electrolyte but sinks into the bath after loading with substrates.
  • the trough is slidably mounted for reciprocating vertical movement in guide members which form part of a mechanical agitator mounted in the bath.
  • the floating shield device serves to facilitate deposition of a uniformly thick layer of metal on the substrate and avoids excessive deposition at the lower extremities of the substrate.
  • the present invention provides an electrolytic plating system in which the vibrator is mounted on a free, movable part of the flight bar.
  • the vibrator is not mounted on one of the massive (rigid) parts of the line.
  • a significant loss of vibration energy occurs through absorption by the massive parts on which the vibrator is mounted.
  • the mounting of the present invention allows all of the energy to be carried forward to the printed circuit boards in the plating line. Additionally, the energy transfer is more even compared to prior art systems.
  • the present invention provides improved flow of the electrolyte through the holes of the printed circuit boards, which generates an improved throwing power of plating inside of the through holes and blind vias.
  • the improved flow is accomplished by an increase in laminar flow along the printed circuit boards.
  • the laminar flow along the printed circuit boards is increased on one side of the panel and generates an underpressure in the through hole. Because of this underpressure, electrolyte is drawn from the other side of the panel through the hole to generate a better plating distribution. By bath movement, the laminar flow is moved from one side of the panel to the other side. Accordingly, the underpressure is also moved from one side to the other side and the eletrolyte is then drawn through the hole in the opposite direction.
  • the increased flow is generated first by an eductor system that is placed under specially designed floating shields.
  • the resulting eductor system works like a venturi, so the volume of electrolyte that is pumped through the eductor is increased 5 times when leaving the eductor.
  • the floating shield itself also creates a venturi flow because of it special design.
  • the electrolyte exiting this floating shield has much higher and better laminar flow as compared to standard plating designs.
  • the electrolytic plating apparatus includes a vibrator 11 attached to upper rod 13.
  • the upper rod 13 is mounted with a spring system 12 to the rigid rod 14 that is used to support the v-saddles of the production line.
  • the spring system 12 prevents vibration energy from being absorbed by the rigid parts of the apparatus.
  • the upper rod 13 carries the vibration energy from vibrator 11 and produces homogeneous vibration energy to carry to lower rod 15.
  • Clamps 16, in which the printed circuit boards are fixed, are connected to lower rod 15, as is flexible current-supply connection 17.
  • the system includes a special floating shield 20 in which the venturi flow effect is increased. Electrolyte is supplied through piping 21 to eductors 22 so as to draw additional electrolyte from the bath.
  • partitions 23 of floating shield 20 are shaped to enhance the venturi effect 25 of the eductors 22.
  • Partition 24 is located directly below the printed circuit boards and acts to direct the flow to either side of the boards, depending on the location of the shield 20.
  • the partitions 23 also assist in producing the improved laminar flow 26 along the printed circuit boards 31.
  • the laminar flow 26 causes the formation of a low pressure region (i.e., Bernoulli effect) to draw an increased flow 33 of electrolyte through the through holes of the printed circuit boards 31, as illustrated in figure 2A .
  • a low pressure region i.e., Bernoulli effect
  • the laminar flow is directed to and increased on the opposite side of the printed circuit board by partitions 23 and 24 so as to cause the flow 32 of electrolyte in the opposite direction through the through hole.
  • Figures 3A-E show the transition of the laminar flow and through hole flow from the having the transport mechanism move the shield and its partitions from the left ( figs. 3A-B ) of the eductors 22, to the middle ( fig. 3C ), and then to the right ( figs. 3D-E ) of the eductors 22.
  • the present invention includes any electrolytic plating system with an elecrolytic plating bath, means for positioning the printed circuit boards in the bath, and means to alternately generate a laminar flow of electrolyte on each side of the printed circuit boards.
  • a preferred means to alternately generate a laminar flow of electolyte comprises a floating shield with a venturi-shaped partition and an aligned partition below the printed circuit boards, and plurality of eductors below the floating shield.
  • the means to alternately generate a laminar flow of electolyte can further comprise a transport mechanism that moves the floating shield and its partitions from side to side relative to the eductors or a mechanism to move the eductors.
  • the plating can be further improved by using a vibrator and a spring-mounting system that prevents vibration energy being absorbed by fixed portions of the plating system.
  • An exemplary embodiment of the invention is an electrolytic plating system for plating vias and thru-holes in printed circuit boards that includes an electrolyte bath, a lower rod above the bath, a flexible electrical current supply connection attached to the lower rod, at least one printed circuit board clamp attached to the lower rod, a floating shield with v-saddles in contact with the printed circuit boards, the floating shield further comprising a venturi-shaped partition, at least one eductor in a lower portion of the bath below the floating shield for producing a laminar flow of electrolyte across the printed circuit boards, and means to alternate the laminar flow from one side of the printed circuit board to an other side of the printed circuit board.
  • This system could also further comprise an upper rod that supports the lower rod, a vibrator on the upper rod, and a spring system to mount the upper rod to a rigid structure.
  • the floating shield could further comprise a partition directly below the printed circuit boards to direct flow of electrolyte to either side of the printed circuit boards and the means to alternate the laminar flow can be provided by a transport mechanism that moves the shield and its partitions from side to side relative to the eductors.
  • the invention can also be limited to the improvement in vibration energy, such as an electrolytic plating system for printed circuit boards comprising a plating line supporting the printed circuit boards with a lower support rod, an upper rod that supports the lower rod, a vibrator on the upper rod, and a spring system to mount the upper rod to a rigid structure.
  • vibration energy such as an electrolytic plating system for printed circuit boards comprising a plating line supporting the printed circuit boards with a lower support rod, an upper rod that supports the lower rod, a vibrator on the upper rod, and a spring system to mount the upper rod to a rigid structure.
  • the method of practicing the present invention is an electrolytic plating method for plating vias and thru-holes in printed circuit boards that comprises positioning the printed circuit boards in an electrolytic bath and alternately generating a laminar flow of electrolyte on each side of the printed circuit boards.
  • Alternately generating a laminar flow of electolyte can be provided by positioning a floating shield with a venturi-shaped partition and an aligned partition below the printed circuit boards; and operating a plurality of eductors below the floating shield, and can further comprise moving a transport mechanism so as to move the floating shield and its partitions from side to side relative to the eductors.
  • the method can further include supplying vibration energy to the printed circuit boards in the bath by mounting a vibrator on the transport mechanism using a spring-mounting system to prevent vibration energy being absorbed by fixed supports.
  • the electrolytic plating method for plating vias and thru-holes in printed circuit boards includes providing an electrolyte bath, positioning a lower rod above the bath, providing electrical current to the lower rod with a flexible connection, clamping at least one printed circuit board to the lower rod, transporting the printed circuit boards in a floating shield with v-saddles in contact with the printed circuit boards, the floating shield further positioning a venturi-shaped partition below the printed circuit boards, producing a laminar flow of electrolyte across the printed circuit boards with at least one eductor positioned in a lower portion of the bath below the floating shield, and alternating the laminar flow from one side of the printed circuit board to an other side of the printed circuit board.
  • This method can further comprise supporting the lower rod with an upper rod, supplying vibration energy to the upper rod; and isolating the vibration energy from a fixed structure with a spring system, as well as providing a partition directly below the printed circuit boards to direct flow of electrolyte to either side of the printed circuit boards.
  • moving a transport mechanism that moves the shield and its partitions from side to side relative to the eductors can be used to alternate the laminar flow.
  • the electrolytic plating method for printed circuit boards of the present invention comprises supporting the printed circuit boards with a lower support rod of a plating line, supporting the lower rod with an upper rod, supplying vibration energy to the upper rod, and mounting the upper rod to a rigid structure with a spring system.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Electroplating Methods And Accessories (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Printed Wiring (AREA)
  • Printing Elements For Providing Electric Connections Between Printed Circuits (AREA)
EP02786452A 2001-10-19 2002-10-21 System and method for electrolytic plating Expired - Lifetime EP1438446B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US34441701P 2001-10-19 2001-10-19
US344417P 2001-10-19
PCT/US2002/033530 WO2003033770A2 (en) 2001-10-19 2002-10-21 System and method for electrolytic plating

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1438446A2 EP1438446A2 (en) 2004-07-21
EP1438446A4 EP1438446A4 (en) 2006-03-29
EP1438446B1 true EP1438446B1 (en) 2012-06-20

Family

ID=23350458

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02786452A Expired - Lifetime EP1438446B1 (en) 2001-10-19 2002-10-21 System and method for electrolytic plating

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US6818115B2 (OSRAM)
EP (1) EP1438446B1 (OSRAM)
JP (1) JP2005506447A (OSRAM)
KR (1) KR100660086B1 (OSRAM)
CN (3) CN101570873B (OSRAM)
AU (1) AU2002349972B2 (OSRAM)
ES (1) ES2449076T3 (OSRAM)
WO (1) WO2003033770A2 (OSRAM)

Families Citing this family (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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JP4759834B2 (ja) * 2001-04-25 2011-08-31 凸版印刷株式会社 フィルムキャリア用電気めっき装置
US20050061660A1 (en) * 2002-10-18 2005-03-24 Kempen Hein Van System and method for electrolytic plating
EP1903129A1 (en) * 2003-11-20 2008-03-26 Process Automation International Limited A liquid delivery system for an electroplating apparatus, an electroplating apparatus with such a liquid delivery system, and a method of operating an electroplating apparatus
US7947161B2 (en) * 2004-03-19 2011-05-24 Faraday Technology, Inc. Method of operating an electroplating cell with hydrodynamics facilitating more uniform deposition on a workpiece with through holes
US7553401B2 (en) * 2004-03-19 2009-06-30 Faraday Technology, Inc. Electroplating cell with hydrodynamics facilitating more uniform deposition across a workpiece during plating
JP2011256444A (ja) * 2010-06-10 2011-12-22 Sumitomo Bakelite Co Ltd 基板の処理方法および処理装置
NL2005480C2 (nl) * 2010-10-07 2012-04-11 Meco Equip Eng Inrichting voor het eenzijdig elektrolytisch behandelen van een vlak substraat.
CN103590079A (zh) * 2012-08-14 2014-02-19 亚洲电镀器材有限公司 一种电镀方法
CN103320844A (zh) * 2013-05-16 2013-09-25 陈焕宗 一种电镀工艺的面铜控制装置
KR101457060B1 (ko) * 2014-04-30 2014-10-31 (주)네오피엠씨 진동전달기능을 갖는 도금장치
CN105862098B (zh) * 2016-06-22 2018-01-12 苏州翔邦达机电有限公司 适用于pcb板电镀的浮架系统
JP2020147831A (ja) * 2019-03-15 2020-09-17 三菱マテリアル株式会社 電解めっき装置、及び、電解めっき方法
WO2021071885A1 (en) * 2019-10-08 2021-04-15 Applied Materials, Inc. Mechanically-driven oscillating flow agitation
CN112822873A (zh) * 2019-11-15 2021-05-18 宇泰和股份有限公司 高纵深比电路板通孔化学处理/电化学处理装置
CN112111779A (zh) * 2020-09-04 2020-12-22 深圳市欣佳宏科技有限公司 线路板电镀电源无线感应飞巴机构及电源无线感应方法
KR102751572B1 (ko) * 2024-05-23 2025-01-09 (주)티피에스일렉콤 피도금물의 도금 품질 개선 및 광택 저하 방지를 위한 도금장치

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR20040058210A (ko) 2004-07-03
WO2003033770A2 (en) 2003-04-24
JP2005506447A (ja) 2005-03-03
HK1136011A1 (zh) 2010-06-18
US6818115B2 (en) 2004-11-16
CN101570873B (zh) 2011-08-03
US20030196904A1 (en) 2003-10-23
WO2003033770A3 (en) 2003-09-18
CN1962956A (zh) 2007-05-16
CN100523305C (zh) 2009-08-05
EP1438446A2 (en) 2004-07-21
ES2449076T3 (es) 2014-03-18
CN101570873A (zh) 2009-11-04
CN1571865A (zh) 2005-01-26
EP1438446A4 (en) 2006-03-29
AU2002349972B2 (en) 2006-08-24
KR100660086B1 (ko) 2006-12-20

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